Apparatus for distending prefabricated box covers and applying the same to filled boxes



1947- w. F. LINSTEDT 2,43 ,701

APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICATED BOX COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1943 1947- w. F. LINSTEDT ,701 APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICATED BOX COVERS 'AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES Filed Nov. 26, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v I H iiz ecif Dec. 30, 1947. I w, LINSTEDT 2,433,701

- APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICATED BOX COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26, 1943 I I V l l l l l l U' I IH b l fzz'nszeczi 30, 1947- w. .F. LINSTEDT .7

APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICLMJED BOX- COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME "IO FILLED BOXES 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. I 1 4mm" 6m 1/9 5,4 120 m y w :33 3' 11f Flzinafed F. LINSTEDT 2,433,701 APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICATED BOX COVERS 8 Shasta-Sheet 5 Dec. 30, 1947. w

AND APPLYING THE SAME T0 FILLED BOXES Filed NOV. 26, 1943 [Merci a7" wa mzzimze Oz;

Dec. 30, 1947. w. F. LINSTEDT 2,433,701

APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRICATED BOX COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES Filed Nov. 2a, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet e .[711/6712527 z l-zmrziwzeazz D86; 30, 1947. w L N 2,433,701 APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRIGATED BOX COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES Filed Nov. 26, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 w. F. LlNSTEDT Dec. 30, 1947.

2,433,701 APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING PREFABRIGATED BOX COVERS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO FILLED BOXES Filed NOV 26, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 .fnveni' r" ins Patented Dec. 30, 1947 CATED BOX COVERS AND ARBQYING THE; SAME T FILLEDIBOXESJ William... EQLinsjedt- Freepo gt l ll assigned t KraftEopds; Company, a co oration of Del I,

wer

Application November 26, 1943;. SeriaiiNm This appl cation s concerned; with; mechanism r. appara us employed; connection with the p cka in ofi-z. products;- in; at box; comprisines. a. lowenboxportion;andiaicoverportionhaving side Wal s alesoopirzallylw fittinaaround theside Walls; of, the; bogs. The; box; may be. a; rigid. preefabrie.

cated box, or 'it,may betaecollapsibleor foldable. box; whichshas; been preliminarily unfolded and. filled. with material;toibetpackaged; The cover, whiohthe..- apparatus. hereinl to bee. describedtis to. apply-to itherbox, is .a. collapsible or: foldable cover consistinglof a top. wall and side walls, two ope posite; walls oft which are initially folded in Wardly intouovei lapping relation-to thetop panel, and; the other; twoiof which are initiallyafolded outwardly. andalsolrefoldedi upon -v themselves as an incident; to. the inward folding of thefirst mentioned: pair of walls. I Thecoveris supplied to the apparatus; to be'described; infthecollapsed formindicated, is automatically distended and then applied-to the-box,

The-main objects of thepresentinvention are to provide apparatus for distending collapsed boxcoversand-applyingsame to a box ina rapid, w-holly: automatic operation; to provide: such apparatuswhichwill be relatively simple in char acter, efficient, reliable-and durable'inoperation; toprovide s-uc-h' apparatus which will operate to automatically dis-tendbox covers and apply the same to-boxesone-by: one, in successive, automatic andrapid operations to provide such apa plan'yFi-e: 4 is aplan 'sectionon-theline 41'4- of'Eig; lyFig; 5' isa'section-on thelinei dof-f Fig. 1; Fig: fi'is'aqse cti on ori the-line66"of Fig: 5 Fig; 7' is a detail 'illustrat-ion corresponding toap'ortionf of Fig, 6, but{ certainparts in a position whichthey occupy before reaching the position-shown ii Fi 6'; i s is an; illustration in. sid l va ion i 'ih eesi r q re n hp i Har qfji s .m c anieiasiiqwn 11213 5 fi F 9% 10 are sectional illustrati ns correspondinatoa, part; or Big 6 ,but rshowina successively: changed positions 0 thestru tureiliig 11 is atsectionon 25f Fig ;12-,i,s 'a fragmentary, W, tthe'rneans for/actuatin erta men sci-il s i m;-, i aa. a lil uai oe Oi: er-m1 a t' h me: nism how tfia" o c eiinan ri e s; p EamS'L. iS.i1l..-: e; n r ne i u a n certain parts; at themechanism1 to more: clearly,

illustrate-fihermfii nfili mrw i h t edistendedcoveer is applied to the package; Fig. 15 is; ai firsnectiveuillustrationzofia} collapsed cover such asis distended: and: applied; to astbox; by; the mechaQ-T e nism,. and; Fig; 16 is; a: perspective: of; the; come;

pletedor CQVEIIQd-EPHLCkQgQLOI box The boxes ;to1.W=hich 1 covers; are; appliedv by the; mechanism herein described, may be in .theiorme.

of a more: on less conventional? rectangular. boxcardboard.- fold ed to form a rectangular tube; open; atboth ends, andinserted intothe distendedtray 20 toprovidea box-of considerablygreater depththan thedepth of the-tray 20. As}

sho vviri,in? lfigfl i, the boxthus formed has a shoulder, or seat 24; formed by the upper edges of thesideand endvvallsaroundthe outside of the" tubularwall body 23;, In the-particular'box and" cover structure herein,contemplated, the shoulder seat 31 o aied mdw si b t e n the nd;

1 bottom of thecompletdgbox,andthe cover member.v to belappliedlmay, be, of, the, same constructionvascthgbottom trayZ01, A, cover m m r 5 p i'g,,'15jin,its prefabricated, CO1: "med-condition; As showhin lifi'g, 15,the cover embodiesa oeiwenz d inwardly folded sidewalls 21 -21, and, outwardly. ioldedf end, Walls 28T-2.&l The side and end walls of the cover are foldably, connected; along-lines; which; will form the side wallcorners. of the cover; when distended, and, wa lst n dentto h c llap i of the: cover. 4 3Es 13 O1dQdrllDn h s v alon diasp r na-llyv ex endin ilinesz 29,.

When the-cover: 2J2 is;01 ..ene.ci--..up,v 0r s nd d and applied to the box structure shownvinjliig lai the finishectpackage: willzappear, asshown in Fig; 16;.frorm whichaittwillbe seenpthattt'he lowers edges-ofthe cover sidewalls engagethe shoulder.

or.seat= 24- of th'e box,- therside and-endwallsof: the cover telescopically fitting around" the pore 3 tions of the tubular wall structure 23 which extend above the shoulder or seat 24. It is preferred that the depth of the cover be substantially the same as the vertical dimension of the tubular wall structure portion, which extends above the shoulder 24.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a series of filled boxes 20 are delivered to the apparatus of this application by means of a conveyor belt 39, which may be a continuously driven belt. The filled packages may be delivered to the belt 30 from the filling mechanism, or any other source, and they may be disposed side to side, as shown. A stack of covers 21 to be applied to the boxes is held in vertical position by means of a pair of vertically extending angle members 3|, which are adapted to receive the pointed end portions of the collapsed covers. The covers are arranged in the stack with their folded side and end walls facing downwardly. (See Fig. '7.)

The stack of covers 21 is initially supported at the rear side of the stack by means of a cover feed plate 32 and the forward portions of the ends of the stack are supported by the upper ends of supporting blocks 33. (See Fig. 3.) The front portions of the supporting angles 3| are terminated as indicated at 34 just above the normal plane of the top surface of the lowermost cover member 21, so that the lowermost cover may be fed forwardly or laterally from the bottom of the stack.

The feed plate 32 is horizontally, slidably mounted in a suitable supporting bracket 35, which is mounted on the main frame of the apparatus, all parts of which are designated F. As will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3, the feed plate 32 is provided near its longitudinal center with an inverted T-shaped bar 36, which is slidably fitted in a correspondingly shaped or under-cut slot in the upper portion of the bracket 35.

The feed plate 32 is automatically reciprocated by means of a lever 31, the upper end of which is connected by means of a link 38 to the rear end of the feed plate 36. The lever 31 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as indicated at 36c on a suitable frame-supported bracket. The lower end portion of the lever 31 carries a roller or cam follower 39, which is acted against by a rotary plate cam 40 carried by a cam shaft 4|. A spring 42 connected to a portion of the lever 3! and conveniently accessible frame part serves to normally urge the feed plate 36 to move rearwardly, and to maintain the cam follower 39 in operative engagement with the cam 46. The cam 43 is, of course, appropriately shaped to effect operative movement of the feed plate 36 in properly synchronized relation to other operating parts of the apparatus, and so as to permit the feed plate 36 to remain at rest in a retracted position during certain portions of the operating cycle.

The cam shaft 4| is journalled in suitable bearing brackets 43, carried by the frame of the mechanism, and it may be continuously driven by connection to any available source of power. In this instance, it is illustrated as being driven by means of an electric motor 44 through a driving chain 45.

In the fabrication of the collapsed trays, adhesive is employed for joining flaps which extend from the ends of the end walls into overlapping relation to the inside of the adjacent portions of the side walls. It is found that it often happens that a small amount of adhesive is squeezed out 4 from between the glue flap and wall portion, with the result that the side walls are sometimes adhesively bonded in their collapsed condition to the inside of the top wall. This bond, which inadvertently occurs, is usually not very strong. It is important that it be broken so as to free the side walls from the inside surface of the top panel, in order that the side walls may be unfolded or opened to their distended condition.

For the purpose of breaking any such bonds as may exist in the collapsed carton, the feed plate 32 is provided near its opposite sides with wedge-shaped elements 46 secured to the underside of the plate as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. By examination of Fig. 6, it will be understood that the wedges 46, together with the leading end portion of the feed plate 32 are operative to enter between the forward side wall portion 21 and the top panel 26 of the cover, to pry the same apart as an incident to the feeding of the lowermost cover member from the bottom of the stack thereof, to mechanism for unfolding the cover and applying it to a box. By inspection of Fig. 7, it will be understood that the front wall 21 of the lowermost box in the stack usually sags downwardly to the extent permitted by the end supports 33, so that the leading end portion of the feed plate 32 will readily enter between the leading side wall 21 and the top panel 26 of the cover. It should be understood that the sagging of the front wall 27 is the result not only or its weight, but also of the normal resiliency of the paper board from which the covers are made, such resiliency tending to effect unfolding or opening of the cover. It Will also be understood that such sagging or preliminary opening occurs from end to end of the cover member, and that it is fairly uniform throughout the central part of the side wall, but that at the ends thereof, there is an inclined portion extending from the central portion to the supported end wall portions of the cover. To insure entrance of the leadin edge of the feed plate 32 into the space between the front Wall 21 and panel 26, the leading edge of the feed plate is convexly arched, approximately as indicated at 4| in Fig. 3.

To effect similar breaking of any bond between the rear wall 21 and the top panel of the cover, there is provided a pair of arms 48 mounted on a rock shaft 49 WhlCh is suitably journalled in bearings carried by the frame of th apparatus. The upper end of each arm 46 is provided with a pointed, hook-like extension 50, which, when the arm is properly rocked, will enter between the rear wall 21 and the top panel 23 of the lowermost cover member, to break any existing bond therebetween. (See Fig. 9.) The rock shaft 49 and the bond-breaking arms 48 are actuated just prior to the feed movement of the feed plate 32, and said arms 48 are, of course, retracted to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 in time to permit the operation of the feed plate 32.

The rock shaft 49 and its arms 48 are actuated by means of a cam 5| (see Fig. 8) which is secured to the came shaft 4|. The cam 5| acts against a cam follower 52 carried by a lever or arm 53 pivoted at one end as indicated at 54 to a frame-supported bracket member, and it has its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod or link 55, the other end of which is connected to an arm 56, which is secured to the rock shaft 49. A spring 51 stretched between a portion of the arm 53, and a part of the main frame serves to resist movement of the arm 53 by the cam 5I,-and maintains the cam follower 52 in operative engagement with the cam.

Afterthe bond-breaking arms 48 have been operated and retracted, the feed plate 32 moves forwardly. Because of the support suppliedby the forward end portion of the feed plate 32 for the rear side wall 2'I of the cover, said rear side wall will be substantially restored to its parallel relation to the top wall 26, substantially as shown in Fig. 6, as soon as the spreader, or bond-breaking finger 50 has been retracted. Thus, the fact that said rear wall portion 21 was temporarily offset downwardly does not interfere with the proper operation of the feed plate 32.

As shown in Fig. 7, the feed plate 32 is in its most advanced position wherein it has delivered a collapsed box cover into the zone of operation of mechanism which opens the collapsed cover and applies it to a package. To prevent the cover from following the feed plate back towards the stack of covers when the feed plate returns to its initial position, there is provided a pair of stationary arms 58 (see Figs. 3 and 6) which have end portions secured as indicated at 59, to. the cover stack supporting angle bars 3|. The free end portions of the arms 58 are recessed as in-. dicated at 60, so as to provide front and rear shoulders GI and 62 respectively, which extend downwardly to approximately the plane of the lower surface of the feed plate 32, as best shown in Fig. 7. The lower edge portion of each arm 58, which leads to the lower end of the rear shoulder 62, is inclined as indicated at 63 in such a manner that the end portions of the collapsed carton will be deflected downwardly below the lowermost edge portion of the member 58, until the cover passes the shoulder 52. Thereupon, the normal resiliency of the cover structure causes the end portions to again spring upwardly so that further movementof the collapsed cover would be stopped by engagement with either the front or the rear shoulders 0| or 62. Thus, when the feed plate 32 is retracted, the shoulder 62 will be operative to strip the cover from the feed plate to thereby leave the cover in the zone of operation of the mechanism about to be described. When the feed plate 32 is retracted, the collapsed cover will drop downwardly a short distance, and come to rest on angularly disposed shoulders or seats 6454 formed on the upper ends of pairs of plate-like arms 65 and 66 respectively, (See Figs. 2, 3 and 6.) At about the same time, a horizontal plate 6! ismoved downwardly into engagement with the top panel of the cover to control upward displacement of the same, incident to the succeeding operations which open, or distend the cover.

The top plate 61 is carried by a vertically disposed rod 68, which is vertically, slidably mounted in a suitable bearing 69 (see Figs. 2 and 3), which is carried by arms secured to and supported by upstanding cover stack supporting angles 3|.

Vertical movement of the plate 61 and rod 68 are controlled by a cam I0 (see Fig. 4) carried by the cam shaft 4|. The cam I0 acts against a cam follower carried by an arm II, which is pivoted at one end on frame-supported pivot shaft 54, and the other end of said arm is connected by means of a short link I2 to an attaching block I3, which is secured to a vertically, slidably mounted rod I4. The rod 14 is slidably supported in appropriate bearings carried by the frame structure, and the upper end of said 6. rod I4 is rigidly connected'by means of a cross arm I5 to the upper end of the plate rod 68 (see Fig. 2). The weight of the rod I4 and parts connected thereby, is adequate to maintain the cam follower in operative engagement with the cam I0, but, if desired, a spring or equivalent means may be provided to insure downward movement of the parts. The cam I0 is appropriately shaped to permit downward movement of the top plate 61, and to cause upward movement thereof, in accordance with the requirements of downward and upward movement 'of the cover during the various operations affecting the same.

At about the time that the collapsed cover is deposited on the upper end seats 64 of the pairs of arms 65 and 66, or immediately thereafter. a pair of rock arms I6 and 11 respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with the pointed ends of the collapsed cover, are actuated to press in-- wardly on said pointed ends, to thereby exert a force which tencgs to unfold, or distend, the cover. The rock arms I6 and 11 (see Figs. 3 and 5) are respectively secured to rock shafts I8 and I9 which are suitably journalled in bearings formed in frame-supported brackets and 8| respectively. Suitable torsion springs 82 are associated with the rock shafts I8 and I9, and with the rock arms I6 and 11, so as to normally urge the rock arms to move outwardly to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5.

The upper ends of the rock arms I6 and I1 have secured thereto short upstanding angle members 83, which are adapted to engage the pointed ends 28 of the collapsed cover. Such engagement is effected by rocking the arms I6 and TI inwardly from the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5, to approximately the position shown in dotted lines in that figure. As also indicated in Fig. 5, the cover is distended, or opened, to a substantial extent, so that the vertical depth of the cover is increased from the depth of the collapsed cover as initially deposited on the seats 64 of the arm pairs 65 and 66. The inward movement of the rock arms I6 and I! may conveniently be effected by a cam I04, carried by the camshaft M and acting against a follower carried by one end of a rock arm I05. The rock arm I05 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as shown at I06 (see 'Fig. 4) on a suitable frame-supported bar or bracket, and the other end of the arm I05 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link I01, which extends upwardly, and is pivotally connected as shown at I08 (Fig. 5) to an arm I09, which is secured to the rock shaft I9. .A spring H0 connected between a part of the rock lever I05 and the supporting frame, serves in cooperation with the torsion springs 82, to normally urge the rock arms I6 and TI to move outwardly and to maintain the cam follower in operative engagement with the cam I04.

The rocking movement thus imparted to the rock shaft I9 and rock. arm I! is transmitted to the rock shaft I8 and rock arm I6 by means of a link I II connected at its ends to the free ends of arms H2 and II 3, which are respectively secured to and extend laterally from the rock shafts I9 and I8. As best shown in Fig. 5, the rock arm II2 extends upwardly from its rock shaft 19, and the rock arm II3 extend downwardly from its rock shaft I8. so that the rocking movement of the shaft 19. transmitted to the shaft I8, will be in the opposite direction.

The unfolding, or opening, of the cover is'assisted by 'means of a pair of pivoted plates or 7. spades Stand 85,; which :are in;the.;-form; horizontally, elongated sheetmetal platess, Said spades or plates 84 and B;are pivotally sup: ported by being attached near their lower'edges totransversely extending bars B6 and 81 respeo tivelywhich, in this instance, are illustrated as being of substantially square :cross-section. The bars 86 and 81 are respectively provided at;.their outer ends with cylindrical bearingv portions which are rockable andmounted in appropriate bearings provided in the frame-supported brackets 8918116. Ill, as, best shown-in Fig. 5.- The bars 88 and 81,; and their respective plates 84- and (Share simultaneously rocked oppositelyor outwardly soas to cause 'theupper ends of the said plates 84 and'85to enter'between the lowermost edges'of the cover side walls 2I-.2'i to thereby effect unfolding thereof;

By reference to; Fig. 6,,it will be understood that:whenithe cover-is partially unfolded, or distended by the action; of-the end'pressingmembers 83, the upper ends of-the plates 84 and 85 will be disposed within ;the partially unfolded sidewalls 2i of ,thescover'so that the outward rocking movement of ;said"plates will cause the plates to engage the inside of the said walls, and to effect thefurther opening thereof, as already indicated.

The rocking movement of thebars 86 .-and 81, and of their respective plates 84 and. 85 may conveniently be effected in properly synchronized operation with-the other-parts of the mechanismb-y mean of a cam;88,:carried by-the cam shaft ii. Saidcam lid-acts against a cam follower carried byone end of alever 89, pivoted intermediate its ends, as indicated at 90, on a bracket carried by the ,frame'of the apparatus. The other end-,of said arm 89 is .pivotally connected to an upwardly extendinglink or rod 9|, the upper end of which is pivoted, as indicated at 92', to the lower end of a rod 93 (see Figs. 1

and 2). The rod-93is vertically slidably mounted'in suitable bearing openings provided in-the frame-supported bracket 8B,- and the upper end of said rod 83 is provided-with a cross-head 94., which is equipped withoppositely facing bifurcations or spaced arms. (See Fig. 6.) The oppositely-facing bifurcations of the cross-head 94 embrace rollers or pins 95 and 96, which: are carried by thefree ends of arms 91 and -98.respectively; which are-secured at their other ends to. the transverse rock shafts or rods 36 and B1. Thus,-it willbe seenthat the verticalmovement of the shaft, or rod 533 upwardly will rock the spreader plates-or spades :84 and 85 in opposite directions, to serve-thepurpose above set forth. Similarly, at the proper-time, downward-,movement of the rod 93.retracts or restores the plates 85 andflfi to their initial position. The downward movement of the rod 93 may conveniently be aifected by a tension, spring 99, connectedbetween a part of the lever89 and part ,of the frame, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.. The cam 88 is, of course, so shaped as to effect andcontrol the movement of 'the'actuating-rod 93, in ac-- cordance with theirequirements and purposes of the mechanism actuated thereby.

The fully opened ,or spread-position ;of the coveropening plates-8d and 85 is illustrated in Fig. 9. By reference to that figure, it will be seen that when the plates B t-and- 85 are in their fully opened position, the-sidewalls 21-41 of; the cover are distended slightly beyond their normal vertical position, relativeto the top panel 26.

-In;the drawing, the excess distension-is, of course,

somewh t exag erated illustrative i i l- The lower edges ;of the cover, walls 2 reston plates: I00 and IIlI respectively, carried by the arm pairs I35 and 66, and it will be observed that the plates E l-= constitute, in effect, afunnel through which a filled boxmay beinserted into the distended cover. Such insertion. of a, filled box is further facilitated-by-providing end flanges IIlZand Ill3ion the :ends of the plates Bland 85 respectively, the same being formed integral with, or otherwise rigidlysecured to the ends of the respective plates 8 1 and 85. The said end flanges I02 and Bare also ,preferably angularly disposed so as to converge slightly from their lower ends-totheir upper ends, as best shown in Figs. Zand 5; the said end, flanges I02 and Ill3,.are thereby made effective to guide the filled-box into the distended cover, even though the filled box may beinitially slightly oifset longitudinally, with respect to the position of the cover.

A filled box 20 is delivered into. a position. of vertical alignment with the. distended cover by means of the conveyor 3!). Initially, the leading filled box 201s delivered by the conveyor 30 against a fixed stop I I4 (see Fig. 11), which .is carried: by a, suitable frame partv or bracket. When the-filled box is disposed against the stop H4, it is supported by a, pair of vertically movableplatforms H5, which are then in a lowered position, as illustrated in dotted lines, The plat,- form H5'are respectively disposedat opposite sides ,of the conveyor belt 36 (see Fig. 2) and they are secured to the upper ends of a pair of rods MES-9H6, which .arevertically, slidably mountedi-inysuitable bearings II'I,.carried. by the frame .oftheapparatus. Suitable mechanism .is providedfor effecting verticalmovement, of the .rods and platforms.

When the plates -or spades 84. and 85 approach their nearly verticalposition, as :shown in Figs. 9,and 11,. theplatforms or elevators H5 begin their upward movement to thereby elevate the filled box 2%, and to pass it between thefunnelforming plates 84 and 85,.and into the distended cover. During the upward movement of the elevators I I5, the other. filled boxes25l on, the. conveyor belt 30 are held against forwardmovement by means of a stop plate I I8,-which dependslfrom the elevators H5, and is secured'at its lower end to, an intermediate portion of the .rod. H6. Return, or downward movement. of theelevators ,I I5 is, ofcourse, effected-before thefunnel-form- .ing plates 84 and 85 begin-,theinreturn movement, so. that the elevators H5rwill readilypass between the said plates.

Vertical upward movement is imparted to the elevators I I5bymeans ,ofp cam H9 secured to the cam shaft lisand acting against a follower I20,-whichis carried byaleverIZI, intermediate ,itsendss The lever,I2I is pivotally mounted at one endiron the pivot shaft 54 (see-Fig. ,4), and theother endrofsaid lever-is connected by means of=a-link I22-to a cross-arm. I23,1 which.is suitably clamped or secured to the elevator rods H5.. A

tension spring 3 I 24, stretched between a portion ofthe leverIZI anda conveniently accessible frame part, serves to effect downwardmovcment-of the elevator, to'mai-ntain-thecamfoh lower 42!) inoperative engagementwith the periphery of the cam I I9.

endspf the funnel platest84and 85.,"substantially I answer 9. as shown in Fig. it. In that position, the filled and covered box :is supported just slightly above a conveyor or chute I25,rto which thepackage is delivered from the elevators.

In someinstancesilt may'bepracticable to rely upon the upward "movement of the package by the elevators I I5 to strip the cover from the upper marginal portions ofthe spades or plates" 84 and 85. I l'oweve'r', where the cover is made a fairly snug fit over the received portion of the" box,=the're may be a strong tendency to'tear the cover, espe= cially at its corners, if the filled box were fully inserted into the sever while the cover remains in position over the upper mar inal portions, of the plates B4 and In 'ercerto avoid such a tendencyto tear the cover, the cover'sup-pdrtiing lates I05 and I] are-movedvertically'upwardly in unison with'th' filled box to strip thecover from the plates 84 and85' before the filled: box is completely inserted into the cover. in me embodiment of the inventiohythe cover' stripping movement of the stripping'plat-es I00 and I01 is initiated when the filled box has been elevated and inserted to theextent'of about intoth'e cover. The upward movement imparted to the strippers I00 and III'I issufiicient toele'vate the cover substantially in unison with" the upward movement of the filled box; after the filled box has first been introduced into the coverfto the extent already indicated. I

After the strippers I00 and IIII have'effected removal ofthe cover fro'm' the upper end por trons of the plates 84' and 85, the u ward movement of the filled box-is, of course, continued to complete the insertion of'the filled box. The top plate 61 is, of course, actuated during the'opera tions just mentioned, so "as to eo=operate with the strippers I00 and lot and the elevators H5.

To permit the relative movement of the stripper plates I'Olland IUI, and the funnel' forming plates 84 and 85;requird by the above described striprung operation, the said strip-per plates and their supporting members 65 and I56 are secured to the rock shafts or bars '86 and '81, for vertical adjustment relative thereto.

By reference to Figs. 5, 9 and '10, it will be seen that the mounting plates 65 and B6 are secured at theirlower ends to square bars or rods I25 and I2! respectively, and that the said bars or rods mounted on respectively adjacent rock sha'fts86 and 81', through the agency of pairs of pins I28.

The pins I28 are respectivelyrigi'dly secured to the bars I 25 and I21, near their ends, andproject downwardly therefrom through suitable holes 1 Fig. 9". The upward movement of the respective bars I ZSand' 121', and the stripper plates 1 0'0 and idl is effected in synchronized relation to" the other movements of the. various arts bymeans of pivoted arms; such as indicated at I3I and I3! (Fig. indicated at I33 on a short shaft journalled in a bearing" provided the frame bracket 88, and

the arm I32 is" similarlypivotally mounted on "a short shaft I 34, which is jtturnall ed in a suitable bearingopening provides? the rramebr ck t I26 and IZT are Vertically slidably The arm [3! is pivotally mounted as:

8|. The. pivoted arms I3! and I32 are caused to move simultaneously by means of an interconnecting link I35, one end of which is pivoted to one end of an arm I36, which depends from the pivot shaft I33, and the other end of which link is pivoted to an arm I35, which is secured to, and extends upwardly from the other pivot shaft I34.

Movement is imparted to the inter-connected arms I3I and I32 by means of a cam I31, carried by the cam shaft 4I (see Figs. 2 and 4). Said cam I3! acts against a follower I38, carried by a lever I 39 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as indicated at'I40. The other end of said lever I39 is pivoted to the lower end of an upwardly extending link I4I, the upper end of which is pivoted to a rod 142-. The rod I42 is vertically slidably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the frame bracket 8| (see Figs. 2 and 5). The upper end of the rod I42 is provided with an enlarged head I43, a portion of which overlies apart of a short lever I44, which extends from and is secured to the pivot shaft I34 (see also Fig. 3.). A spring 145 stretched between a part of the lever I39 and a conveniently accessible part of the frame serves to yieldinglyurge the link MI and rod I42 to move upwardly, and to-maintain the cam follower I38 in engagement with the periphery of the cam I31.

When the cam I31 efiectsdownward movement of the link MI and rod I42, the arm I44 is, of course, rocked downwardly, thereby rocking the arm'I32 upwardly, and through the link connection I35, the arm I3I upwardly. The extent of rocking movement thus imparted to the arms I3I and I32 is such that the outer-end portions of the arms I3I and I32 will engage the adjacent ends of the pins I28, and move the same upwardly through the-rock shaft 81, thereby effectingthe described upward movement of the stri per plates I00 and III-I. The cam I31 is, of course, so formed and so timed with reference to the. other mechanisms as to effect the stripping 01L eration in the desired synchronized relation to the operation'of the package elevator structure, and other operating parts.- The spring I45 will, of course, serve to return the rod I42 to its upward limited movement, so as to thereby permit the springs I30, and the weight of the-parts, to effect return, or downward movement of the stripper mechanism.

Feeding of the completed package from its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 11, to the chute I25, is effected by a pusher I46. The pusher I46 is carried by the upper end of an arm I41, which is one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted as indicated at I48 on a bracket extending upwardly from a part of the frame. The other arm I49 of said bell crank is pivotally connected as shown at I50 to the upper end of a link I5I-, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to one end of an arm I52 (see Figs. 1 and 4). The other end of said arm I52 is pivoted, as indicated at I53, on a suitable frame-supported bracketand intermediate its ends, said arm I52 being provided with a cam follower [54 which engages the periphery of a cam I55 secured to the cam shaft 4'I. A spring I56 stretched between an intermediate portion of the link |5I and a conveniently accessible frame part, serves to normally urge the link I5-I to move downwardly and to thereby maintain the cam follower I54 in engagement with the periphery of its operating cam I55. It will be seen that rocking movemerrt of the bell crank levers I41 and I49 in a,: lo k-wi e; direction, as seen in Fig. 1, effected 11 by the described cam mechanism, will be operative to move the pusher l 46 to the right, to thereby feed the completed package from the elevators H to thechute I25.

The apparatus above described may be associated with other apparatus which sets up the box and delivers the same to mechanism which fills the box with the desired product and from which filling mechanism the filled boxes are delivered by the conveyor 30 to the described coverapplying mechanism. The conveyor 30 may be an extension of a conveyor forming a part of the box filling apparatus. or it may be a separate conveyor which receives the filled boxes from the filling mechanism. In this instance, the conveyor 3:: is illustrated (see Fig. 1) as being a continuation or extension of the filling machine conveyor. It is accordingly operated in synchronized relation to the filling mechanism, and it may be driven by suitable driving connection to the motor 44 of the cover-applying mechanism. As shown in Fig. 1, the conveyor 3!] is driven by a chain drive I51 from the motor 44. The described cover-applying mechanism is completely automatic in its operation, and does not require more than normal machine maintenance attention in order to keep it in proper and eflicient operating condition. The mechanism is of relatively simple character, in volves no highly critical adjustments, and is correspondingly durable and eiiicient in operation.

Changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the principles of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position under and substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel, said side and endwalls being adapted to be unfolded to distended tray-forming position, stack supporting means underlying the forward portion of the stack of trays and spaced downwardly from the normal plane of the bottom thereof so as to permit the forward side wall of the lowermost tray to spring to a partially unfolded position, a forwardly and rearwardly movable feeder for ejecting the lowermost tray from the stack, and means for reciprocating said feeder, said feeder being operative in such a plane that when moved forwardly, it will advance under the rearward portion of the stack and enter the lowermost tray between its main panel and partially unfolded side wall so as to engage the tray in the .corner between said panel and partially unfolded side wall to thereby eject the tray from the stack.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position under and substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel, said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to distended tray-forming position, stack supporting means underlying the forward portion of the stack of trays and spaced downwardly from the normal plane of the bottom thereof so as to permit the forward side wall of the lowermost tray to spring to a partially unfolded position, a forwardly and rearwardly movable feeder for ejecting the lowermost tray from the stack, and means for reciprocating said feeder, said feeder underlying the stack and serving, when in retracted position, to support the rearward portion of the stack and being operative, upon forward movement, to enter the lowermost y between its main paneland partially unfolded side wall so as to engage the tray in the corner between said panel and partially unfolded side wall to thereby eject the tray from the stack.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said tr ys embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position under and substant ally parallel to the lane of said main panel, sa d side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to distended trayforming posit on. stack supporting means underlying the forward portion of the stack of trays and spaced downwardly from the normal plane of the bottom thereof so as to permit the forward side wall of thelowermost tray to spring to a partially unfolded position, a forwardly and rearwardly movable feeder for ejecting the lowermost tray from the stack, means for reciprocating said feeder, said feeder being operative in such a plane that when moved forwardly, it will advance under the rearward portion of the stack and enter the lowermost tray between its main panel and partially unfolded side wall so as to engage the tray in the corner between said panel and partially unfolded side wall. to thereby eject the tray from the stack and fixed means for receiving said ejected tray and stripping the same from said feeder upon rearward movement thereof.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of colla sed paper board trays, each of sa d trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position under and substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel. said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to distended tray-forming position, stack supporting means underlying the forward portion of the stack of trays and spaced downwardly from the normal plane of the bottom thereof so as to permit the forward side wall of the lowermost tray to spring to a par tially unfolded position, a forwardly and rearwardly movable feeder for ejecting the lowermost tray from the stack, means for reciprocating said feeder, said feeder be ng operative in such a plane that when moved forwardly, it will advance under the rearward portion of the stack and enter the lowermost tray between its main panel and partially unfolded side wall so as to en age the tray n the corner between sa d panel and partially unfolded side wall to thereby eject the tray from the stack, and fixed means for receivin sa d ejected tray and stripp ng the same from said feeder upon rearward movement thereof, said receivin and stripping means comprising an element having a cam surface for camminq a portion of the tray from its normal path of movement, and a shoulder beyond said cam surface for engaging the rearward ed e of the tray when advanced past said element and restored to its normal plane of movement.

5; App ratus of the class described, com rising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and s de and end walls fo ded to collapsed posi tion under and substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel, said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to distended tray-forming position. stack supporting means underlying the forward portion of the stack of trays and spaced downwardly from the normal plane of the bottom thereof so as to permit the forward side wall of the lowermost tray to spring to a partially unfolded position, a forwardly and rearseer :and .enter :the lowermost tray between-its zmain ypanel and partially unfolded side wall sso 13S a to ienga ethe trayin. the corner between-said: panel :;;and, partially unfoldedside wallto thereby eject the tray from the stack, and means carriedrby 'asaid feeder for effecting further unfoldingmove- :ment of the forward side wall las- -an incidentzto the tray-feedingoperation.

dfihApparatus ofthe class described-comprising -al holder forastack of collapsed paperboard "trays, eachof said trays embodying amain panel -.and side and end walls folded tocollapsedvposi- .tion under and substantially arallelto the plane .of. said. main vpaneLsaiu side andrend walls be- .ing .adaptedto ,be unfolded to distended stray-'- elforming position, means for effecting .such un- 'f folding oftheflcollapsed tray, means for feeding the lowermosttray. from said stack to'said tunfolding means, and means acting onthelo'wermosttray inthe stack foreffectinga preliminary partial'unfolding movernent of one of its side "Walls for facilitating the operation ofsaid' un- "folding means.

*7. Apparatus "'of the class described, "compris- '*inga-'holder for a-stack of collapsedpaper'board "trays, each (if-saidtrays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed posiktion under and substantially arallel to the plane ofsaid main panel, said side and end walls being :adapted to be unfolded to distended tray formtingposition, 'means for effecting-suchunfolding :"o'f tithGfCOllfiDSGd trays, means for ifeeding the is'lowermost tray of the '2 stack from. saida'stack "to said unfolding means, and means "for'effecting :a preliminary :partialunfolding :movement of thez-side walls of. the tray i before itis delivered :to said unfolding means.

8. 'Apparatusof the class describ ed,icompris ing a holder for .arstack of collapsed paper board trays,- each of said trays embodying. a main panel afolding operation, and means forxrockingsald .armvsor as to. cause said laterally :extending fiend yportion'toxenter the lowermost tray'asaaforesaid. Apparatus -.of.the,;c lass described, comprising 1a h lder fora stack of collapsed -.pape board -;:-t;rays, eachof-said-trays embodyingamainpanel .gndsid-firfliaflhd wal s: fold d to. o aps d-pos ti substantially parallel to the iplaneeof. said n'iain :.nane d asid and :end Walls being ;adapted to :be-unfoldediodistended tray-fo m n vzpu 91 :means afqrzunf di afs d t ays. and :inean's 1 01' :znfe di e-th .trayszsuc essively irom'sa -i o de s said unfoldirrgrmeans, said unfolding means;comprisingemeans :for receiving thetrays ;fro nv said ho de in -:.s;u .h a .mann r as t .-pe mit th sid ean ineid'ent t'o fiat-he inherent resiliency --of =the apaper board, a pair-of pivotal'lytmounte'cl plates adapteditosenter' between said partially unfolded side walls, 2said*plates bein'g pivoted for rocking movement 'respective'ly in opposite directions about axes disposed substantially parallel with the =fold -line connections between said main panel and saidpartially unfolded walls, and means for rocking said plates to complete the *10 unfoldingof said -side walls.

1 0. -Apparatuso'f' the class described comprising-'a -holder for'a stack of collapsed paper board =trays, each of said-trays embodying a'main panel and side and end walls *foldably connected to said 16 :main panel and having their adjacent-endsfolda- :bly inter-connected, the side walls'being folded inwardly of said pan'el, and the end walls being fol'dedoutwar-dly therefrom and refolded upon themselves as-an incident'to their connection to the ends of said side walls and the inward fold- :ingithereof, :means. for unfolding *said trays, and #means for feeding said trays to said unfolding means;-said unfolding means comprising members -enga'geable with, and movable inwardly of the m folded end walls of the tray 'to effect inwardunfolding movemen't thereof, plates pivotally mountedfor rocking movement about axes subst-antially parallel to thefold line connecting the sidewalls of the tray to the zmain-panel thereof, said-plates being -respectively adapted to i enter betwe'enithe inwardly folded' side walls and to move outwardly thereof in opposite direct-ions so as to efiect unfoldingof' said side 'wallsfand means'for 35 effecting said movement ofsaid pivoted plates.

I l-ly Apparatus of the class described comprising-a holder fora-stack of collapsed paperboard trays,- eacho'f said trays embodying a main panel --a'nd side and end walls foldably connected to 140 -said main-panel and having their adjacent ends foldably inter-connected, the side walls being fol'ded inwardly of said panel, and the end walls :being folded outwardly therefrom and refolded upon'ithemsehfis: as an incident to their connec- 45 tion to the ends of said side walls and the inrwardiolding thereof, :means for unfolding said rztrays and means :forieeding said trays to said unfolding means, said-unfolding means comprisingr membersimovableinwar-dlyof thetray and gthexsaid folded end walls .to-effect inward unzmovezoutwardlyso-as to-yefiect further unfolding of said side-walls,=.-sai-d plates being pivotedfor xgsai'd. movementabout axes which are substantially -tparallelzwith thefold line connections between e he griespect-ive sidewalls and said main panel, ans foreefiecting said outward movement ,of aid j pivoted plates, andmeans carried by. said .plates.;for :engaging thefreeedges of said :side 1w llsqto 1imitthe=extent@towh ch said p a e en- -;;t.e -ih t' a Y 2- Apnaratus 9f "the class {described m ri l iner holder fo aw tee eqf apse pap r board ays eaehaofsaidir y em d i avm in pan l ndisideandendwalls foldably connected to said 5 am inpa e a dh ins thei diac nt nds d by .inte r. connected,- theside walls being folded i n'wardly ofsaid panel, and the send walls being folded outwardly therefrom and refolded upon ,.themselve s as an incident to their e connection .to

etells rte-rearing: mapart all iopenedlpesitiqnps 11 7.5 sthe endslo saidiside wal szancl tnelinward-foldipe thereof, means for unfolding said trays, and

means for feeding said trays to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising members movable inwardly of the tray and engageable with said folded end walls to effect inward unfolding movement thereof, thereby to also effect partial unfolding of said side walls, a pair of pivotally mounted plates adapted to enter between the partially unfolded side walls and to, move outwardly so as to effect further unfolding of said side walls, means for effecting said outward movement of said pivoted plates, means for moving a box between said plates and into the unfolded tray and for effecting unitary movement of said box and tray to a position clear of said unfolding inwardly of said panel, and the end walls being folded outwardly therefrom and refolded upon themselves as an incident to'their connection to v the ends of said side walls and the inward folding thereof, means for unfolding said trays, and means for feeding said trays to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising members movable inwardly of the tray and engageable with said folded end walls to effect inward unfolding movement thereof, thereby to also effect partial unfolding .of said side walls, a pair of pivotally mounted plates adapted to enter between the partially unfolded side walls and to move outwardly so as to efiect further unfolding of said side walls, means for effecting said outward movement of said pivoted plates, means for feeding a box between said pivoted plates and into the tray unfolded thereby, and means for stripping the tray from said pivoted plates during 7 a portion of the movement of the box into the tray. 7

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls foldably connected to said main panel and having their adjacent ends foldably inter-connected, the side walls being folded inwardly of said panel, and the end walls being folded outwardly therefrom and refolded upon themselves as an incident to their connection to the ends of said side walls and the inward folding thereof, means for unfolding said trays, and means for feeding said trays to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising members movable inwardly of the tray and engageable with said folded end walls to effect inward unfolding movement thereof, thereby to also effeet partial unfolding of said side walls, a pair of pivotally mounted plates adapted to enter between the partially unfolded side walls and to move outwardly so as to effect further unfolding of said side walls, means for effecting said outward movement of saidpivoted plates, means for feed- .ing a box between said pivoted plates and into the tray unfolded thereby, means for stripping the tray from said pivoted plates during a portion of the movement of the box into the tray, said stripping means comprising strippers mountl ed on said pivoted plates for movement toward the ends thereof which enter the tray, and means for effecting stripping movement of said strippers after the box has partially entered the tray and before the box is fully inserted into said tray.

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paper board trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls foldably connected to said main panel and having their adjacent ends foldably inter-connected, the side walls being folded inwardly of said panel, and the end walls being folded outwardly therefrom and refolded upon themselves as an incident to their connection to the ends of said side Walls and the inward folding thereof, means for unfolding said trays, and means for feeding said trays to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising members movable inwardly of the tray and engageable with said folded end walls to effect inward unfolding movement thereof, thereby to also effect partial unfolding of said side walls, a pair of pivotally mounted plates adapted to enter between the partially unfolded side walls and to move outwardly so as to effect further unfolding of said side walls, means for effecting said outward movement of said pivoted plates, means for feeding a box between said pivoted plates and into the tray unfolded thereby, means for stripping the tray from said pivoted plates during a portion of the movement of the box into the tray, strippers respectively associated with said plates and mounted for movement toward and from the ends of the plates which enter the tray, said strippers being adapted to engage the free edges of the tray sides unfolded by said pivoted plates, and means for effecting stripping movement of said strippers relative to said plates before the box is fully inserted into the tray but after partial insertion has been effected.

15. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paperboard trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position under and substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel, said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to downwardly extending tray-forming position relative to said main panel, means for unfolding said side and end walls, and means for feeding the folded trays successively from said holder to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising a pair of members for effecting downward and inward unfolding movement of the end walls of the tray, and a pair of members for effecting downward and outward unfolding movement of the side walls of the tray, said end unfolding members being disposed outwardly of the area of the tray when unfolded, and said side unfolding, members being plate-like members engageable with the inner faces of said side walls and having smooth, unobstructed inside surfaces'constituting, when the tray walls are unfolded, funnel-like means through which a package may be guided upwardinto the distendedtray.

ly into the tray, and means for propelling a package upwardly through said funnel-like means and 17. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paperboard of said main panel, said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to downwardly extending tray-forming position relative to said main panel,

means for unfolding said side and end walls, and means for feeding the folded trays successively from said holder to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising a pair of members for effecting downward and inward unfolding movement of the end walls of the tray, and a pair of members for effecting downward and outward unfolding movement of the side walls of the tray, said end unfolding members being disposed outwardly of the area of the tray when unfolded, and said side unfolding members being plate-like members engageable with the inner faces of said side walls and having smooth, unobstructed inside surfaces constituting, when the tray walls are unfolded, funnel-like means through which a package may be guided upwardly into the tray, and means for propelling a package upwardly through said funnel-like means and into the distended tray, said plate-like members having laterally extending end flanges formed to constitute funnel-like means at the ends of the tray to guide the package at its ends inside the ends of the tray.

18. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a holder for a stack of collapsed paperboard trays, each of said trays embodying a main panel and side and end walls folded to collapsed position substantially parallel to the plane of said main panel, said side and end walls being adapted to be unfolded to laterally extending tray-forming position relative to said main panel, means 18 for unfolding said side and end walls, and means for feeding the folded trays successively from said holder to said unfolding means, said unfolding means comprising a pair of members for effecting inward unfolding movement of the end walls of the tray, and a pair of members for effecting outward unfolding movement of the side walls of the tray, said end unfolding members being disposed outwardly of the area of the tray when unfolded, and said side unfolding members being plate-like members engageable with the inner faces of said side walls and having smooth, unobstructed inside surfaces constituting, when the tray walls are unfolded, funnel-like means through which a package may be guided into the tray.

WILLIAM F. LINSTEDT,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,784,571 Bergstein Dec. 9, 1930 1,868,873 Bergstein July 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,516 Germany Apr. 26, 1929 640,895 France Apr. 7, 1928 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,433,701. December 30, 1947.

WILLIAM F. LINSTEDT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 14, line 49, after the words the tray and insert engageable with; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommissz'oner of Patents. 

